Position-sensitive photodetector and light transmissive tablet and light-emitting pen

• US 4,794,634 A
• Filed: 08/13/1986
• Issued: 12/27/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Toru, Imaizumi, Hisaakira, Hosoi, Mitsuo, Takitani, Yukitaka, Torihata, Shigenori, Nishi, Yokichi, Hirooka, Masatake, Tsurumaki, Naoya, Matsuda, Tomoo
• Primary Examiner(s): George, Keith E.
• Application Number:
  US06/896,009
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93, 379/96, 379/100, 340/707, 340/712, 178/18, 178/87, 350/342
• US Class Current: 379/93.19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision

Abstract

The data input device comprises a tablet portion made of a two-dimensional position-sensitive photodetector and a planar display element laid one on the other, and a light emitting pen forming a light spot on a light-receiving surface of the position-sensitive photodetector. The locus of the movement of the light emitting pen is displayed on the surface of the planar display element at correspond positions in accordance with the output of the two-dimensional position-sensitive photodetector, and the contents of the display provided on the planar displaying element are allowed to be delivered for subsequent processings.

Claims

1. A tablet type data input/output device comprising:

a tablet portion comprising a rectangular position-sensitive photodetector and a light transmissive planar display element disposed on said photodetector, said photodetector comprising a substrate, a first resistance layer disposed on said substrate, an amorphous semiconductor layer disposed on said first resistance layer, and a second resistance layer disposed on said amorphous semiconductor layer, said first resistance layer being provided at opposing edges thereof in a predetermined first direction with a pair of first electrodes each for taking out an output signal, said second resistance layer being provided at opposing edges thereof in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction with a pair of second electrodes each for taking out an output signal;

a light emitting pen for irradiating a light spot onto said tablet portion so as to indicate a data input position;

detecting means for detecting the data input position indicated by said light emitting pen based on the output signals taken out from said first and second electrodes;

display control means for controlling display of said planar display element; and

data transmitting means for transmitting output of said detecting means for subsequent processings.

2. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 1, wherein said planar display element is of a liquid crystal type.

3. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 1, wherein said amorphous semiconductor layer comprises a n type amorphous silicon layer, an i type amorphous silicon layer disposed on said n type amorphous silicon layer, and a p type amorphous silicon layer disposed on said i type amorphous silicon layer.

4. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means obtains first position data corresponding to said data input position in said first direction by dividing the difference between the output signals from said first electrodes by addition of the output signals from said first electrodes, and second position data corresponding to said data input position in said second direction by dividing the difference between the output signals from said second electrodes by addition of the output signals from said second electrodes.

5. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 4, wherein said data transmitting means transmits said first and second position data in time sharing manner.

6. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 1, wherein said tablet portion further comprises an optical filter layer interposed between said position-sensitive photodetector and said planar display element.

7. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 1, wherein said display control means comprises memory means for storing output of said detecting means, and said planar display element displays locus of said data input position indicated by said light emitting pen in accordance with output of said memory means.

8. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 1, wherein said tablet portion is mounted to a telephone set, said display control means causes said planar display element to display data transmitted from another telephone set through a telephone line, and said data transmitting means transmits output of said detecting means to said another telephone set through said telephone line.

9. A tablet type data input/output device comprising:

a tablet portion comprising a planar display element and a light transmissive rectangular position-sensitive photodetector disposed on said planar display element, said photodetector comprising a substrate, a first resistance layer disposed on said substrate, an amorphous semiconductor layer disposed on said first resistance layer, and a second resistance layer disposed on said amorphous semiconductor layer, said first resistance layer being provided at opposing edges thereof in a predetermined first direction with a pair of first electrodes each for taking out an output signal, said second resistance layer being provided at opposing edges thereof in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction with a pair of second electrodes each for taking out an output signal;

a light emitting pen for irradiating a light spot onto said tablet portion so as to indicate a data input position;

detecting means for detecting the data input position indicated by said light emitting pen based on the output signals taken out from said first and second electrodes;

display control means for controlling display of said planar display element; and

data transmitting means for transmitting output of said detecting means for subsequent processings.

10. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 9, wherein said planar display element is of a liquid crystal type.

11. The tablet type date input/output device according to claim 9, wherein said amorphous semiconductor layer comprises a n type amorphous silicon layer, an i type amorphous silicon layer disposed on said n type amorphous silicon layer, and a p type amorphous silicon layer disposed on said i type amorphous silicon layer.

12. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 9, wherein said detecting means obtains first position data corresponding to said data input position in said first direction by dividing the difference between the output signals from said first electrodes by addition of the output signals from said first electrodes, and second position data corresponding to said data input position in said second direction by dividing the difference between the output signals from said second electrodes by addition of the output signals from said second electrodes.

13. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 12, wherein said data transmitting means transmits said first and second position data in a time sharing manner.

14. The tablet type data input-output device according to claim 9, wherein said display control means comprises memory means for storing output of said detecting means, and said planar display element displays locus of said data input position indicated by said light emitting pen in accordance with output of said memory means.

15. The tablet type data input/output device according to claim 9, wherein said tablet portion is mounted to a telephone set, said display control means causes said planar display element to display control means causes said planar display element to display data transmitted from another telephone set through a telephone line, and said data transmitting means transmits output of said detecting means to said another telephone set through said telephone line.